Device for intermittent gas-lights.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906. G. MATTHEWS, JR & E. E. LAUN. DEVICE FORINTERMITTENT GAS LIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED IEB. 8. 1905.

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No. 830,092. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906. 0. MATTHEWS, JR. & E. E. LAUN.DEVICE FOR INTERMITTENT GAS LIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED F3308. 1905.

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. gas-meter.

c NITED s'ra'rns PATENT orrrcn.

CHARLES MATTHEWS, JR, AND ERNEST E. LAUN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR INTERIVIITTENT GAS-LIGHTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed February 8, 1905. Serial No. 244,770.

To ctlZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES MATTHEWS, Jr, and ERNEST E. LAUN, citizensof the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIntermittent Gas-Lighting Apparatus, of which the following is a fulland complete specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

Our invention relates to devices for intermittently supplying gas to aburner wherein the gas supplied to such burner is controlled by a valvethat is connected with the moving mechanism of an ordinary meter.

Broadly speaking, apparatus of this general character has been devised;but it is our object to devise by our invention more simple andeflicient mechanism than has heretofore been employed; to provide animproved valve for automatically cutting off the supply of gas to thepipe or pipes carrying it tothe place or places to be lighted; toprovide an improved construction for keeping gas always supplied topilot-lights, from which the main burners are successivelylighted as thevalve rotates, and to improve generally the construction and operationof apparatus of this class.

That which we believe to be new will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sec tion. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection through the controlling-valve and its casing, the section beingtaken at line 1 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section at line 2 2of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing the relative arrangementof one of the gas-burners and its pilot-light.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings, in which correspondingparts are indicated by the same reference-letters, A indicates agas-meter of ordinary type, the side of the same being partly brokenaway to illustrate some of the interior mechanism.

B indicates a sleeve arranged vertically in the construction shown andattached to the top of the gas-meter by a plate B preferably formed interal with such sleeve, which is bolted or OfilQTWTlSG firmly secured tosuch At the upper end of the sleeve B is another plate B which, likeplate B is preferably formed integral with the said sleeve.

B indicates a vertically-disposed shaft journaled in the sleeve B, tothe lower end of which is secured a crank-arm C, suitably connected toanother crank-arm C, with which the gas-meter A is equipped, as shown.

E indicates a casing fitting over and tightly secured upon the plate 13,the plate B thus forming the lower wall of a chamber and the casing Ethe upper and side walls thereof. The chamber thus formed is indicatedby E.

F indicates a cylindrical valve connected to the upper end of thevertical shaft B, so as to turn therewith. The under face of this valveF is provided with two relatively large recesses F and F located atopposite sides, as best shown in Fig. 2. The solid portion of the valvebetween these recesses, as well as the edge portion of the valve, restsupon and fits closely to the upper face of the plate B".

f indicates openings in the valve F, through which gas can pass from thechamber E to said recesses F and F As clearly shown in Fig. 2 and asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the solid portion of the valveintermediate of the recesses F and F is notched 011 its forward orleading edge, considered with reference to the direction of movement ofthe valve, so as to form a series of projections f, that are adapted tosuccessively close certain openings 6 in the bottom of the chamber E,through which and through the pipes hereinafter described the gas isconducted to the places where it is to be consumed. The rear edge of thesolid portion of the valve is notched or cut away to correspond to theprojections on the forward edge, so that the time that each opening inthe bottom of the chamber is cut off or obstructed will be the same asany other of the said openings.

It indicates a series of pipes communicating with holes 0 through theplate B which pip es are adapted to conduct gas to the point or pointsof combustion. In the construction shown these pipes h lead to differentcompartments of a sign II, where they each terminate in a gas-burner 7.As shown, each of the compartments of the sign H is provided with aletter {1 in its front face, the different letters being separated fromeach other by opaque division-walls H, so that when a burner in any onecompartment is lighted the light from such burner will be confinedsolely to its own compartment.

G indicates a pipe through which gas that has passed through thegas-meter A is conducted to the chamber E, in which is located the valveF.

G indicates a valve by which the flow of gas so the chamber E can be cutoff when de- SlIe I indicates a pipe communicating with the pipe Gbetween the gas-meter and the valve G, through which pipe I gas isconducted to the sign H, the said pipe I being provided with a smallopening in each of' the compartments of the same, so that the gasescaping therefrom can be lighted and furnish a very small flame in eachcompartment, which will serve to light the gas at the burner g, withwhich each of said compartments is provided, as stated, whenever the gasis allowed to flow through said burner. In Fig. 4 one of such smallopenings in the pipe I is shown and indicated by 9 These smallgas-flames that serve to light the burners on the pipe h areappropriately called pilot -lights. The pipe I is supplied with a valve7. for cutting off the as therethrough when required.

K in 'cates the pipe through which gas is conducted from the mains orother source of supply to the gas-meter A.

In operation gas will be allowed to flow through. the pipe I, thepilot-lights in the several compartments of the sign II will be lighted,and the chamber E put into communication with the interior of the meterA by opening the valve G in the pipe G. The escape of gas through thepipe I that feeds the'pilot-lights will cause the mechanism of the meterto be set in motion, and through such motion the shaft B will be turnedand cause the valve F in the chamber E to revolve. Such revolution willsuccessively bring the projectionsf over the openings 0 in the plate Bthus shutting off the supply of gas to the burners in the variouscompartments of the sign, and by the passing of the solid portion of thevalve over these small openings gas will be again admitted to the pipes72 to be by them conducted to the several compartments of the sign, andby reason of the notching' of the rear edge of this solid portion of thevalve, as shown, the gas will be admitted to the various pipessuccessively, and, as will be understood, as each pipe h is brought intocommunication with the chamber E the gas emitted from the burner g ofthat pipe will be lighted at onceby the pilotlight opposite it.

While wev have herein referred to the part A as a gas-meter and While wedeem it best touse an actual gas-meterforoperating therotati n valve F,as thereby a single device is use for: the operating means and forrecording the amount of gas consumed, it is evident, of course, that it1s not necessary for the successful operation of our device that thepart A be actually equipped with devices for registering the amount ofgas that passes through it. The term gas-meter as used herein willtherefore be understood to include a device containing mechanismoperated by the passage of gas with which our main valve F is connected,whether such part be equipped with registering devices or not.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an intermittent gas-lighting apparatus, the combination with agas-meter, and pipes for conducting gas thereto and therefrom, of agas-holding chamber, means for conducting gas thereto from said meter, aplurality of burners, a pipe leading from said gas-holdingChamber toeach of said burners, a valve in said chamber connected with said meteradapted to admit gas successively to said pipes, and means for movingsaid valve by the flow of gas through the meter, substantially asspecified.

2. In an intermittent gas-lighting apparatus, the combination with agas-meter, and pipes for conducting gas thereto and therefrom, of agas-holding chamber, means for conducting gas thereto from said meter, aplurality of burners, a pipe leading from said gas-holding chamber toeach of said burners,

a valve in said chamber connected with said.

meter adapted to admit gas successively to said pipes and tosuccessively shut oif' the supply of gas thereto, and means for movingsaid valve by the flow of gas through the meter, substantially asspecified.

3. In an intermittent gas-lighting apparatus, the combination with agas-meter, and pipes for conducting gas thereto and therefrom, of agas-holding chamber, means for conducting gas thereto from said meter, aplurality of burners, a pipe leading from said gas-holding chamber toeach of said burners, a valve in said chamber connected with said meteradapted to admit gas successively to said pipes, means for moving saidvalve by the flow of gas through the meter, a pipe connected with saidmeter and extending to said burners, and a pilot-light burner on saidpipe for each burner, substantially as specified.

4. In an intermittent gas-lighting apparatus, the combination with agas-meter and pipes for conducting gas thereto and therefrom, of agas-holding chamber having a plurality of openings through which gasmayes cape, apipe for conducting gas from said me.- ter to said chamber, arotating valve provided with projections each adapted to be brought, asthe valve turns, over one ofsaid openings, and means for rotating saidvalve by the flow of gas through said meter, substantially asspecified.-

5. In an intermittent gas-lighting apparafrom, of a gas-holding chamberhaving a plurotating said valve by the flow of gas through rality ofopenings through which gas may essaid meter, substantially as specified.

ca e, a pipe for conductin as from said mev tel to said chamber, a rotaliing valve having Elvs its leading edge provided with a series ofprojections and its rear edge provided With a se- Witnesses:

ries of notches corresponding in size and CHARLES S. KNUDsoN,

number to said projections, and means for FREDERIO J. JosLIN.

